Louth all-rounder Brindle helps England to series win

LOUTH’S Arran Brindle took two wickets but had a rare poor game with the bat as England Women eased to a one-day series whitewash over South Africa at Senwes Park on Tuesday.

England won the toss and chose to bowl first, high on confidence having won the opening two games of the three game series.

Arran Brindle’s 2 for 20 off ten overs dismissed Alison Hodgkinson (34) and Marizanne Kapp (1) and helped reduce the hosts to a modest 181-9 off their 50 overs.

England began their reply badly, with openers Charlotte Edwards and Danielle Wyatt both out in the first five overs without really troubling the scorers.

Brindle arrived at the crease with England struggling on 35-3 but was back in the hutch after just three balls for a single run, trapped LBW by Masabata Klaas.

England then managed to sustain a decent partnership with Heather Knight and Lydia Greenway putting on 87 before the latter was caught for 63.

But a further partnership of 54 gave England a comfortable five wicket victory with seven overs to spare.

England’s new skipper, Charlotte Edwards, said: “It’s great to win the series three nil, that’s what we came out here to do so I’m really pleased.

“It was our best bowling and fielding performance of the trip so far and I thought we stuck with it with the bat. Although we lost early wickets Heather Knight and Lydia (Greenway) put on a really good partnership.

“People have stood up, especially the bowlers who have got better and better throughout the trip which bodes well for the Twenty20 series.”

All-rounder Brindle will hope to recover her batting form as England begin a three match Twenty20 series against South Africa starting on Thursday. They also play Saturday and Sunday.

See next week’s Leader and www.louthleader.co.uk to follow Arran’s progress.